New ministers, state ministers assigned portfolios in midnight order

The Cabinet Division has issued a notification assigning portfolios to four newly appointed ministers and two state ministers following a major reshuffle in the BNP-led government. Portfolios of several ministries have also been reassigned.
Signed by Cabinet Division Secretary Nasimul Gani late Friday night, the notification assigned BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BJP) Chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partha was given the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Jamalpur-1 MP M Rashiduzzaman Millat has been made Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, while Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry has been appointed Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.
Among the two new state ministers, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser (Technocrat) Humayun Kabir has been assigned the Foreign Ministry, while Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaisar Lincoln has been appointed State Minister for Religious Affairs.
Following Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s election as President, he relinquished the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives portfolio, which has gone to Abdul Moin Khan.
Rashiduzzaman Millat, previously state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, has been elevated to full minister, while former minister Afrozah Khanam Rita has been given charge of the Food Ministry. Partha replaces Zahir Uddin Swapan, who has been appointed Prime Minister’s adviser with ministerial rank.
Saching Prue Jerry’s appointment fills the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs post, which had remained vacant since Dipen Dewan resigned on June 1.
Humayun Kabir will serve as Foreign Minister Khaleelur Rahman’s deputy alongside State Minister Shama Obaid.
With the latest appointments and portfolio changes, the size of the Cabinet has increased to 52 members. The government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was formed on February 17 following the 13th parliamentary election with 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.w